The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-07-30
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY

Georgia. Constitution, the leading
daily paper OF the South, as to the sue
cess of prohibition in that city Mr..
Crookshanks has never lost an oppor-
tunity to parade the failure of prohibi
ton in any instance, and it is but fair
and right to expect that when such
testimony is presented that he, OF any
candid opponent of prohibition should
for the public benefit put it upon re-
cord:
"It has now been eighteen months
since the election, and twelve months
since the law went into effect. We are
prepared thus from observation to note
results.
"Prohibition in this city does pro-
hibit. The law is observed as well as the
law against carrying concealed weapons,
gambling, theft, and other C[tenses OF
like character. If there had been as
many people IN favor of carrying con-
cealed weapons, theft, gambling, etc,
as they were in favor of the retail OF ar
dent spirits twelve months ago, law
against these things would not have
been carried out as well as it was against
the liquor trade. In consideration of
the small majority with which Prohibi
ton was carried, and the large number
of people who were opposed to seeing
it prohibit, the law has been marvelously
we'll observed.
prohibition has not injured the city
financially. According to the assessors
books, property in the city has increased
over two millions OF dollars. Taxes
have not been increased. Two streets
in the city, Decatur and Peters, were
known as liquor steets. 1t was hardly
considered proper tor a lady to walk
these streets without an escort Now
they are just as orderly as any III the
city Property Oh them has advanced
from 10 to IS per cent. The loss of
$4,000 revenue, consequent on closing
the saloons, has tended in no degree to
impede the city's progress in any di-
rection. Fifteen new stores containing
house furnishing goods have been
started since Prohibition went into et
feet. These are doing we'll More furni
ture has been sold to mechanics and
laboring men in the last twelve months
than in any twelve months during the
history of the city. The manufacturing
establishments of the city have received
new life. A glass factory has been
built. y cotton-seed oil-mill is being
built worth S125 900. All improvement
companies with basis IN real estate
have seen their stock doubled in value
since the election on Prohibition.
'Stores in which the liquor trade
was conducted are not vacant, but are
now occupied by other lines OF trade.
| According to the real estate men more
laborers and men OF unlimited means
are buying lots than ever before. Rents
are more promptly paid than formerly.
More houses are rented by the same
number of families than heretofore.
Before Prohibition, sometimes as many
as three families would live in one house
Tie heads of those families now. not
spending then money for drink, are
each able to rent a house, thus using
three instead OF one Working men
who formerly spent a great part of their
money in drink now spend it in FOO.
and clothes for their families. The re
tail grocery men sell more goods and
collect their bills better than ever be-
fore. Thus they are able to settle more
promptly with the wholesale men.
"a perceptible increase has been
noticed in the number of people who
ride on the street cars. According to
the coal dealers, many people bought
coal and stored it away last winter who
had never been known to do SO before.
Others who had been accustomed to
| buying two or three tons on time, this
last winter bought seven or eight and
paid cash for it. a leading proprietor
of a millinery store said that he had
sold more hats and bonncts to labOring
men for their wives and daughters than
before IN the history Of the business.
| Contractors say their men do better
work, and on Saturday evenings, when
they receive their weeks wages, spend
the same for flour, hams, dry-goods, or
other necessary things for their families.
Thus they are in better spirits, have
more hope, and are not inclined to
strike and growl about higher wages.
'During the past year it has become
subject of remark by teachers in the
schools and by visitors that the children
were more tidy, were better dressed,
were better shod, and presented a
neater appearance than ever before.
'There has been a marked increase
in attendance upon the Sunday schools
of the city. This is especially notice
able among the suburban churches.
Many children have started to the sun
day schools who were not able to at
tend for want of proper clothing. At
tendance upon the different churches
is far better. From fifteen hundred to
two thousand people have joined the
various churches of the city during the
year.
''The determination on the part of
the people to prohibit the liquor-trattic
has stimulated disposition to do away
with other evils. The laws against
gambling are rigidly enforced.
CAN these reforms have had d de
cided tendency to diminish crime. Two
weeks were necessary formerly to get
through with the criminal docket. Dur
ing the present year it was closed IN two
days.
The r2ajorty in this county In favor
of Prohibition was only 255. Such a
change has taken place in public sent,
mert. however, that now there IS hardly
respectable antl-ProhlbitioniSt In The
city who favors return to bar-rooms.
There are some who would prefer High
License or its sale by the gallon, but it